A team of researchers led by Felipe Herrera from the University of Santiago and the Millennium Institute for Research in Optics (MIRO) has discovered a quantum mechanism that allows chemical bonds to be broken using less energy than traditionally required. Published in Physical Review Letters, the study shows that when molecules are confined inside nanometer-scale structures called nanocavities, the instrinsic energy fluctuations of the quantum vacuum can enhance the ability of infrared light to trigger molecular dissociation.

The researchers found that these vacuum fluctuations modify the nature of molecular vibrations, making chemical bonds easier to break. This is the first demonstration showing that purely quantum effects arising from the electromagnetic vacuum can be used to significantly increase the reactivity of small molecules. The discovery could help improve industrial processes such as carbon dioxide conversion and hydrogen production, potentially making chemical reactions more energy-efficient and generating less waste.